Ricoh Company, Ltd., Ricoh Vietnam, and REACH, a Vietnamese non-profit organisation, announced the start of the Digital Support Programme for Young People.
This programme aims to help young people in Vietnam who face challenges in the workforce due to limited educational opportunities or family circumstances. Launched in FY2023, the programme achieved results beyond expectations regarding working conditions, living environment, and income, which led to the implementation of this programme for the second consecutive year.
While society is increasingly digitalised, a digital divide (information gap) is emerging among the younger generation. Families with lower incomes are less likely to have access to a PC, which contributes to the digital divide and raises hurdles to employment.
REACH, a non-profit organisation, offers vocational training and job placement support for young people (ages 16-30) in Vietnam. The organisation focuses on those facing significant barriers such as disabilities, poverty, or challenging family circumstances, ensuring they have access to opportunities otherwise unavailable. Since its inception in 2008, REACH has provided training to over 22,000 young people. The curriculum is designed to equip students with the competencies and work ethic that employers value and soft skills related to communication, problem-solving, work readiness, time and money management, and personal integrity.
In FY2024, REACH will once again recruit and train young people through a comprehensive three-month programme. This includes soft skills workshops and technical training in graphic design, ensuring participants are well-prepared to enter the workforce with confidence. During the soft skills training, Ricoh Vietnam employees will participate pro bono and provide lectures on job searching, resume writing, other topics, and one-on-one interview practice.
Since 2021, Ricoh Company, Ltd. and Ricoh Japan have been implementing the Digital Support Programme for Youth for four consecutive years in collaboration with Sodateage Net, a local non-profit organisation. In 2023, Ricoh initiated the programme in Vietnam as the first overseas initiative in partnership with REACH, aiming to expand its scope of support.
